'Your employers seem to think you are irresponsible children': Workplace requires employees take a selfie every time they clock in or out, employee pushes back on invasion of privacy

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 8, 2025 3:00 PM EST

It seems like there's an app for absolutely everything these days. You need an app to park your car or do your laundry or board a plane or order breakfast, and I'm tired of it. Let's go back to the days when the only apps on my phone were Temple Run and the calculator app. Not only are you then responsible for remembering all your usernames and passwords, you're signing up to give away even more of your data. We hear all the time about how our data is being scraped without our knowledge, but sometimes it jumps out and stares us in the face.

This is becoming increasingly true in our workplaces. Jobs are requiring more and more of our personal information in the name of keeping us accountable. Some remote employers require access to their employees' webcams to they can make sure they're at their desk. Some employers require you to share your location. But where does the buck stop?

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  • One worker faced this issue of privacy in the workplace when their employer required them to share a selfie every time they clocked in or out. Though some took this as an opportunity to take fun pictures, some saw this as a huge breach of trust. Read on for the details and see what you think. 

  • 01
    HOW GIF -NO VIDEO PHOTO SQUARE F
    via Antoine Beauvillain

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    This worker shared their concerns about their company's new policy, and asked for feedback.

    New clock in system requires 4 selfies a day
    via u/transyoshi
  • 03
    I've never posted here before, but my job just made a new minor policy change that apparently only I think is absurd and I wanted to get other perspectives on it. Up until now, my job had a punch clock in the break room that we all use for clocking in and out. You put your password in and then your hand. Sometimes you could
    via u/transyoshi
  • 04
    use a digital version in our work app that would let you clock in from your phone, though management didn't like that because someone would have to manually approve it.
    via u/transyoshi
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    This week, we were all notified that we are required to use the new and improved clock-in feature on the app, and are no longer to use the punch clock. The app now requires exact location plus a selfie in order to: clock in, clock out for lunch, back in from lunch, and out for the day. I find this to be beyond
    via u/transyoshi
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    absurd, and apparently I'm the only one at work who thinks so. To be fair they never said it had to be a particularly good or charming photo, everyone else is having fun with it and taking cutesy selfies with peace signs and stuff. Idk I'm just kind of irritated, it feels unnecessary and uncomfortable. Allegedly it was rolled out because
    via u/transyoshi
  • 07
    a handful of employees were "cheating the punch clock and abusing clock in times" whatever that means. I don't see why they wouldn't just discipline those people and be done with it. Is this normal elsewhere? DAE do this regularly for work?
    via u/transyoshi
  • 08
    ETA: I've been taking pictures of things like my lunch or my work station instead of my face since the mandate was announced. I got the text today that the pictures from now on need to be of me/my face.
    via u/transyoshi
  • 09

    Commenters were quick to reply with a litany of why this kind of request is unreasonable.

    . ReaverRogue ⚫ 20h ago "If you want me to use an app, provide me with a work phone. If you're asking for a selfie, please confirm exactly how and where this data is being stored, for how long, and for what purpose."
    via u/ReaverRogue
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    Sparky MonkeyPerthish • 18h ago As a non American, why do all your employers seem to think you are irresponsible children and treat you as such?
    via u/SparkyMonkeyPerthish
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    ammybb 19h ago • I worked for a place that would automatically take a photo of you when you clocked in, but I don't remember an actual policy that our face had to be in it so sometimes I would dodge the camera.
    via u/ammybb
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    I wouldn't say this is a normal practice but it's definitely becoming a thing with more and more tech that allows it becoming more available.
    via u/ammybb
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    You're not wrong for feeling uneasy though because it does seem like just another step in the ever increasing surveillance state. Where do your selfies go? Are they automatically deleted? How do you have assurances about these things? All this should be made clear if they're going to force a policy like that.
    via u/ammybb
  • 14
    Plus...sometimes I just don't want my picture taken even if it "doesn't have to be flattering" like .. stop looking at me like that, you know? Ugh. Sorry you're having to deal with this. I know it's not a great solution but personally...I always have
    via u/ammybb
  • 15
    indeed open and am always looking for new opportunities. So maybe gently keeping your feelers open for a new job is your best bet. I doubt your employer will go back on their investment even if you ask them to think more deeply about this choice. Either way, good luck.
    via u/ammybb
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    Cheezburger Image 10451632640
    via Nathan Dumlao

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    BubzerBlue 18h ago • Do they pay for your phone or your service? No? Then they can. off. Employee property does not exist for corporate benefit.
    via u/BubzerBlue
  • 18
    routertwirp • 18h ago "I dont have a cell phone" When provided with a company phone, middle finger pic, every day.
    via u/routertwirp
  • 19
    PolyAndPolygons • 19h ago Yeah, no. That's crazy
    via u/PolyAndPolygons
  • 20
    itreallysucksimsorry . 18h ago I use a flip phone. Then what?
    via u/itreallysucksimsorry
  • 21
    Dje4321 . 18h ago Its starting to become very common though ive seen people get around this requirement by simply disabling their mobile data to render the app non-functional and require the company to provide alternate means.
    via u/Dje4321
  • 22
    AvidReader123456 • 17h ago Ask them for their full Privacy Policy, i.e. what they are going to do with your data and when.
    via u/AvidReader123456
  • 23
    Callmepanda83744 · 19h ago My last job had this but due to where they placed it and my shortness. It just got multiple pictures of the top of my head. I definitely wasn't going to do anything to make it better either.
    via u/Callmepanda83744
  • 24
    Ok_Spell_4165 • 19h ago . It is sadly becoming more and more common and I am with you in feeling uneasy about it. That being said, if your only way of clocking in requires an app, make the company pay for a phone/tablet for you to clock in rather than using your own device.
    via u/Ok_Spell_4165
  • 25
    Much Development7084 15h ago • If they want a company app on a phone. They can provide me with a work phone. I will not allow a company app that wants permissions on my personal phone.
    via u/MuchDevelopment7084
  • 26
    hc104168 · 18h ago . Do you have access to the photos taken? If so, I'd attempt some stop-motion animation. Or you print out yesterday's photo and hold it in front of your face. And repeat every day. So you get the infinitely disappearing portrait effect.
    via u/hc104168
  • 27
    • mheg-mhen 13h ago Another thing that's happening here is that they're requiring you to have a smart phone. They can't just require you to have a smart phone (and a working camera?!?!) I know people seem to forget this because it's 2025 and most of the workforce has one but it's absurd
    via u/mheg-mhen

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boss privacy antiwork surveillance workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss workplace selfie reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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